The NSW Government approved exploration for coal seam gas 500m from the World Heritage Wollemi National Park at Putty. The Australian 'gas rush' for export needs to be reconsidered taking into account the impacts on the environment, people’s health, livelihoods and plans for the future.

Friday, 7 September 2012

Court interrupts Fullerton Cove drilling

Fullerton Cove NSW courtesy of Callum Rigby

A COURT has ordered Dart Energy to temporarily halt test
drilling for coal seam gas (CSG) at Fullerton Cove, near Newcastle, but the
energy firm says it may still be able to keep to its timetable.

Fullerton Cove residents applied to the Land and Environment
Court for a temporary injunction to stop drilling at the site as they prepare
for a court battle in which they will try to have the project spiked
altogether.

Justice Terry Sheahan on Wednesday partially granted the
injunction, restraining Dart from any development beyond site preparation and
drilling compound construction.

He ordered that the case be expedited.

Drew Hutton, president of the protesters' Lock the Gate
Alliance, told AAP the partial victory would delay substantial works at the
site for months.

"They can't do any of the real work on that
property," he said.

"It's going nowhere fast."

The case is expected to be heard at the end of September.

Dart Energy Australia chief executive Robbert de Weijer said
the company would continue preparatory work at Fullerton Cove and could stay on
timetable.

"Should Dart be successful at the hearing, our existing
drilling timetable following completion of surface works can be
maintained," Mr de Weijer said in a statement.

"Natural gas is a low-emission alternative to
coal-generated power, and this project offers the community potential benefits
in terms of jobs, business activity and reducing the pressure on rising energy
prices for households," he said.

Locals and anti-CSG groups had been blockading a road to the
site until last week, when their protest was broken up by police.

In his judgment, Justice Sheahan acknowledged an
"urgent need for gas exploration in NSW, leading, hopefully, to gas
production" but said the Fullerton Cove protesters' case deserved to be
heard.

"I cannot agree that the applicant's case is
'hopeless', or that it involves only sterile or academic legal questions,"
he said.

"I think there are among all the nuances put to the
court some serious issues to be tried, beyond what does resemble some trawling
of Dart's long and technical assessment documentation for possible
shortcomings."

Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group spokesman Justin
Hamilton said the ruling would bolster other anti-CSG efforts in the state.

"It sends a strong message to coal-seam-gas companies
that communities are prepared to stand up for their land and water and expose
planning loopholes which favour mining over people and environment," he
said in a statement.

"We hope that Dart Energy will now reassess their plans
for our area and voluntarily withdraw from the exploration licence
entirely."

He called on Premier Barry O'Farrell to cancel
the company's exploration licence if this did not happen.